Los Angeles-based cartoonist Matt Furie told AP he intends to resurrect the character he killed off last month after racist, anti-Semitic internet trolls hijacked his creation and transformed it into a hate symbol.

Furie and his brother, Jason, have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $10,000 for a new comic book featuring Pepe.

"Once we get the money together, we're going to do it from scratch," he said, adding he's also trying to "gain some entrepreneurial control" over Pepe with his attorney's help.

"It's a very American tale, trying to control that which cannot be controlled."

His attorney, Kimberly Motley, is also exploring possible litigation against those profiting from Pepe's image without Furie's permission.